Film Night: Dirty Dancing (1987)

Marriage is certainly broadening my horizons - much like travel is supposed to. As a straight, single male, I could never have pictured myself watching Dirty Dancing ... and enjoying it. But that's the point of Film Night - Rachel and I watch each other's favourite films (or films we think the other should see) and this is her all-time favourite.

It's 1963, the end of the family holiday era in the States and 17-year-old Baby (the very cute Jennifer Grey) and her family are spending the summer at holiday camp in the Catskill Mountains. Very soon she's involved in a tangled web of deception and dancing with instructor Johnny (Patrick Swayze), trying to cover while his friend Penny (Cynthia Rhodes) has an abortion, defying her staid and prejudiced family by mingling with the 'lower classes', saving her sister from the camp bounder Robbie ... and all of the time trying to learn the moves of the "dirty dancing".

I have to admit I can see why Rachel rates it: it's a very sweet film. All the main central characters are well drawn, likable people; the dialogue's quirky and memorable (full of oddly quotable lines about "watermelons", "heartbeats" and "corners" that I knew out of context); and the music is great (turns out most of it was played at some point through our wedding!)

There's only one real objectionable character, and he's not really a villain, more a cad. Sure, the final scene where Johnny and his colleagues 'spontaneously' dance up the centre aisle of the hall is a bit cheesy, but come on ... this is an American dance movie ... I can't imagine this sort of excitement kicking off in a rain-soaked Butlins at Bognor.

Because it was a period piece when it was made, and doesn't use special effects or make definitive statements about "the future", Dirty Dancing has aged well and the story - as corny as this sounds - is timeless.

Next week, as it's my choice, we're going for another film without villains, but a lot more violence; my all-time favourite - the controversial and surreal Fight Club.